Atlanta Hawks Drumline Puts A Smile On Charles Barkley’s Face

Over the past month, Inside The NBA has had a few on-air segments featuring Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith participating in their own impromptu drum lines. The bit started out as a time killer between segments, but moved into on-air segments — much to the chagrin of a very unamused Charles Barkley. At the end of Thursday night’s show, Ernie used his “EJ’s Neat-O Stat Of The Night” segment as a last-ditch attempt to finally put a smile on the Chuckster’s face. It worked, thanks to the help of the Atlanta Hawks’ drumline, whose entrance thoroughly spooked Charles.

Barkley smiled through the whole performance, and even clapped for a few beats, before Kenny asked him to start a new beat. Then, we found out why Charles has refused to participate all along. As it turns out, the Round Mound is a little challenged in the rhythm department.